The Next Case (7/8)
by Donna

Email address - donnah@donnas-stories.com
URL - http://www.donnas-stories.com/
Rating - R
Category - MSR, angst
Spoilers - IWTB
Keywords - MSR, angst
Summary - A possible next case . . .
Feedback - Please
Archive - Anywhere, just let me know so I can visit

Disclaimer - Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen and Skinner 
all belong to Chris, 10-13, and Fox - Bless them for it!!  No 
infringement intended


The Next Case 7


Scully was nearly speechless as she investigated the 
contents of the hazardous waste container from the next 
blood drive.  Will leaned against the counter watching her 
and his dad as they hugged each other.  When they finally 
separated, he beamed at them.  

"We need to get this stuff out to everyone."

"We should still test - "

"It's working.  Now we need to see how it works on 'them.'"

"How do you propose we do that?" Mulder asked, stunned.

"We go where they are, and give them a whiff."

"You know where they like to hang out?  Alien bars?"

Will grinned.  "Not exactly, but they're in every big city.  
They've been scoping us out for awhile now.

Mulder's arm tightened around Scully as she looked up at 
him.  He could feel her fear, her desire to go back to 
ignorance, at least for a little while.

"Where?"

"Bloomington."

Mulder looked puzzled for a moment, then grinned.  "Mall of 
the Americas."

Will nodded.  "People come from all over and 'they' would 
want to observe them.  Then, we should go to airports, bus 
stations, places where people gather, maybe emergency 
rooms.  I, I know it's not safe to see my other parents, but I 
need them to get this too, as soon as possible."

"Of course," Scully said immediately.  "They should be top 
priority."

"Bloomington first, then . . . " Will shrugged.

*****

They had their act down.  Scully was dressed in a suit, 
pretending to be the representative for a new fragrance.  
She wandered around the mall approaching groups of 
people and asking them if they had an opinion of a name 
for the product.  They had printed up cards that she handed 
out, which she added a quick spritz of scent and waved 
around when they accepted.

What amused Mulder the most out this exercise, was the 
fact that no scent had been added to the compound.  They 
were sniffing basically water, but they seemed to have no 
trouble filling in the blanks about a perfume-y aroma.

Mulder didn't let her out of his sight, though he stayed in the 
background.  Will was with him, but was searching for one 
of them.

Mulder felt him stiffen suddenly.  "Will?"

The boy nodded.

"Is he looking for us?"

"No.  He's just here to observe."

"Do you know where he is?"

Will turned east and concentrated.  "Over there, but he's 
coming this way.  You and Mom need to get out of sight, 
just in case.  I know what to do.  Please, trust me."

The look on Mulder's face caused Will to take his hand and 
squeeze it.  "It'll be okay.  Come on."  They headed for 
Scully.  She spotted them and cut her spiel short, thanking 
the people around her.  Her eyes were on them now, and 
Mulder could see her fear.

His hand came up to her lower back, and unexpectedly she 
felt herself relax slightly.  It felt so real when he touched her 
there, almost as though they had normalcy.  She found him 
smiling down at her and knew he had picked up her 
thought.  He was doing that more and more since they had 
begun living with their son and even that felt . . . right.

"Will spotted one of them.  We need to follow the plan."

"I know," she said softly.

"It is working so far, Mom.  You've gotten the compound into 
a lot of people so far, and they'll get it to even more.  We're 
not through here today.  I just need you and Dad to get out 
of sight for a little while. Please."

"He's right, Scully.  Come on."

She looked up at him.  She trusted this man above all 
others, but this was their son.  "He won't know - "

"No, he's not looking for any of us.  He's just here to observe.  
Give me the perfume bottle, I need to hurry."

Closing her eyes, she allowed him to take the crystal bottle.  
"Be careful."

"I promise," he smiled up at her, then was gone.

"Mulder?"

His arm went around her, and he led her into the closest 
department store.

*****

Will headed into the anchor store that the alien had entered.  
He took up a position near the makeup counter, and waited.  
It didn't take long, the 'man' was in no hurry, just observing.  
Will clamped down on his shield, allowing only childish 
thoughts to the top of his brain.

The man turned to look at the display of men's cologne, and 
Will approached him from behind.  "Hey, Dad, what about 
this for Mom?  Doesn't it smell good?"  He pressed the bulb 
and the 'man' turned to look at him, automatically taking a 
sniff.  Will made his eyes big and round.  "Oh, Jeez, I'm sor- 
I thought you were my Dad."

"It's okay." 

"There he is, I'm really sorry."  Will was already backing 
away and headed to the other side of the counter.

His prey was smiling slightly, reading the fear and 
embarrassment in Will's mind.  He forgot the incident, 
scanning other minds and wandering out into one of the 
common areas of the mall.

Will stayed back in the store, following him with his mind 
while making sure that he didn't pick up on his parents.  
When the 'man' had moved into another store, Will hurried 
to the department store where Mulder and Scully waited.

He joined them in the boys' department.  Scully shoved the 
shirt she wasn't really looking at back onto the rack and 
hugged him.

"It went perfectly.  He's in Macy's right now.  We should just 
stay here, so I can keep an eye on him."

"Can he hear us?" Mulder asked quickly.

"No, you both have a pretty good shield already and I'm 
keeping an eye out . . . " he turned away from them.

"What?" Scully asked before Mulder could.

"He's having a little trouble breathing, and his chest feels 
tight."

"Already?"

"Their metabolism is different from ours.  That's why they 
like warmer climates, like reptiles.  But he's not worried, he's 
more curious because he's never been sick, and he hasn't 
recognized what he's feeling as symptoms."

Mulder and Scully looked at each other and she sighed.  
"So what do we do now?"

"Go eat.  He's headed away from the food court, and we 
need to lay low and let me concentrate on him for now.  
After he's left, we can do more with the perfume game."

"I guess I'm paying for lunch, huh?" Mulder said, leading 
them toward the nearest food court.

They both noticed that Will was quiet, distant while they ate, 
but they kept quiet, not wanting to distract him.  Finally he 
looked up.  "He's not doing too well."

"In what way?"

"Mostly his breathing, but his vision is being affected for 
some reason.  That's kind of weird.  Have you noticed 
anyone at church not needing their glasses since they got a 
dose of the compound?"

"I haven't noticed," Scully said slowly.

"Wasn't that one of the problems with nasal Viagra?  
Regular Viagra caused people to see blue and taking it up 
the nose . . ." Mulder looked over at Scully who shrugged.

"It's another thing we haven't tested.  This could be so 
irresponsible."  She looked strained, tired.

"It's not.  Mom, listen to me.  Look how well Isaac is doing.  
He's running and playing just like everyone else now.  This 
made him better, and made him immune to the virus that 
they used on you.  Now we know it affects them badly.  
Please, we have to continue."

Scully was silent, but Mulder nodded.  "We know.  We're 
just worried.  This hasn't been done before."

"Someday everyone will know what heroes my parents are," 
Will said quietly.  Scully's breath hitched but she remained 
silent.

Will's attention was drawn away again.  Both adults were 
quiet, watching him.  Scully cuddled into Mulder's side.

"He's leaving.  He knows something's really wrong now."  
Will looked up at Mulder.  "Do we want him to catch up with 
his friends, and have them see him like this or . . . "

"No, he can't go to his friends now.   We can't alert them.  
I'm going to follow him, see where he goes."

"He shouldn't drive.  He really can't see now."

"Okay, I'll use that.  I'll follow him to his car; see if he needs 
any help."

"No.  Mulder, no.  You can't - "

"He can't see that well.  He won't recognize me."

"You can't be sure!" she hissed.

"You have my back, you and Will.  We need to see what he 
does.  I'll be careful.  You know I'm not about to be 
separated from you.  Trust me, Scully."  He turned to Will.  
"Where can I find him?"

*****

Mulder fell in behind him, following him toward his car.  
When he staggered, Mulder stepped forward and took his 
arm.  "Hey, guy, you okay?"

"Yeah, yes, I'm fine."

"You don't look it.  Where you headed?"

"My, my car.  It's just over there."

"Okay."  Mulder stayed slightly behind him and helped him 
to his car.  The alien fumbled with his key fob, but got the 
doors unlocked.  "Listen, you can't drive.  Why don't you let 
me take you somewhere, home?"

The alien wheezed, trying to shake his head. 

"Then how about the emergency room?"

"No, no I just want to go home."

"Where's home?"  He gave an address between gasps of 
breath.  "I'll drive you.  Get in."  He had little choice and 
allowed Mulder to help him take a seat on the passenger's 
side.  "Buckle up."  

Mulder pulled on a pair of thin rubber gloves and shut the 
door.  This guy wasn't going to notice.  Mulder pulled out of 
the parking lot and headed out of town.  The alien leaned 
back and closed his eyes, a little too confident that 
regardless of his physical situation, he was in charge.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Think of it as my good deed for humanity today."

The alien didn't realize that Mulder had seen the slightly 
ironic smile on his face.

Mulder saw the sign he'd been looking for, 'land fill' and 
turned where the sign indicated.  There was no one at the 
gate, so Mulder drove through and around to the right, so 
the car would be out of sight.

Mulder let himself out of the car and hurried around to the 
passenger door.  "Okay?  Come on, let me help you."

The thing opened his eyes but his vision seemed to be 
mostly gone now.  He squinted into the light.  "Is this my 
apartment?"

"Not exactly."  Mulder pulled him from the car and closer to 
the pile of garbage.

"What are you - "

Mulder pulled the plinth from his pocket.  "Sorry about this, 
a little bit, but I can't let you be seen or report back."

"What are - " Before he could finish the question, Mulder 
stabbed the pointed instrument into the back of the thing's 
neck.  He stepped back quickly when the green goo began 
to foam out of the alien's neck.  There was no wind, but he 
could smell the acrid scent, not iron like human blood.  If he 
was getting fumes, there was no effect.  How many times 
had he been exposed to their new compound?

*****

"I can't stand this.  Will, where is he?"

"He's okay.  The alien isn't paying any attention to him.   
He's really sick now."  Suddenly Will seemed confused.

"What?"

"Dad's taking him to the land fill.  He's not that close to 
dying," the boy mused out loud.  His eyes widened then.

"Will?  What?" Scully had hold of his arm.

"He has a plinth with him.  He's - "

"The fumes!  Where is he, we need to go.  We have to get 
him to a hospital."

Will shook his head.  "It's not affecting him, Dad, I mean.  
The fumes aren't bothering him."  He looked up at his 
mother.  "Could that be another plus about what we've 
created?"

Scully sank onto a bench and closed her eyes.

"He's okay, Mom.  He's okay.  He's just waiting for the guy to 
dissolve, so there'll be no evidence."

"Wonderful," Scully said faintly.

*****

Mulder approached what was left of the alien, and with a 
stick, forced the wallet out of his pocket.  The leather was 
barely singed so far, and he used a rag to flip it open.  The 
inside wasn't harmed and he pulled the ID and cash from 
the wallet.  He had $460 in cash, which Mulder shoved into 
his pocket.  It was the ID he was more interested in.  When 
he got to a computer, he'd be check this information out.

Now he needed to get back to his family.  He kicked some 
dirt over the remaining green foam and obliterated his shoe 
prints as he returned to the car.

Shit, he hadn't been paying attention.  He was very nearly 
out of gas.  He sighed, Will would know he was okay, and 
could reassure Scully.  He just hated to take more time.  

He pulled into a convenience store, and put in about a 
quarter of a tank of gas.  No need to waste the money since 
the car wasn't going anywhere soon.  He noticed a woman 
pull up on the other side of the pump.  The car she was 
driving needed work, and she frankly looked exhausted.  A 
young boy called out to her as she got out to pump gas.

"Can I have a Coke?"

"I'm sorry.  I don't even have enough to fill the tank, Jerry.  
Maybe this weekend I can get some drinks and stuff, after I 
get paid."

"Okay, Momma."  He settled back and looked out at traffic.

Mulder felt of the roll of cash in his pocket.  That was the 
way he and Scully had lived when they first hit the road 
together.  All they'd had was each other.  They hadn't had 
Will with them.  How would they have handled that?

He smiled and pulled the nozzle from the gas tank.  He 
leaned over and pretended to pick something up from the 
ground.  

"Ma'am?"

"Uh, yes?"  She looked up at him.

"I think you dropped this."  He handed her the cash he had 
taken from the alien.

She looked down at her hand.  "No, I didn't - "

"I saw you drop it.  Have a good day."

"I - "

He winked at her, then got in the car and drove away, 
leaving her speechless behind him.

Wow, two good things for humanity today, he was on a roll.

He parked as close as possible to the original parking space, 
and got out, locking the doors.  He tossed the keys in the 
nearest trash bin, then pulled off the rubber gloves and 
stuffed them in his jacket pocket.

He stopped just inside the entrance, and let his senses feel 
for them.  He turned east without resistance and headed out 
into the mall.  He spotted Scully sitting at a small table near 
the entrance to an arcade.  She was staring into space, and 
he could feel her stress from across the court.

Before he could reach her, Will had emerged from the 
arcade and they reached her at the same time.

"Scully?"

She looked up and he saw the strain on her face, the 
evidence of tears on her cheeks.

"Scully, it's okay.  We're okay."

She just looked at him.

"Let's get out of here," he spoke to Will, and took her arm.  
She came without resistance but that didn't exactly make 
him feel any better.  She was silent all the way to the motel.  
Will talked a little at first, telling Mulder about taking the 
compound into the arcade and making sure all the kids 
were exposed.

Mulder parked the Highlander outside of their room, and 
hurried around to help Scully out.  Will was silent now as 
well, just following them into the room.  He was the one that 
shut the door.

Before Mulder could speak, the palm of Scully's hand had 
connected with his cheek, full force.  He said nothing, 
watching her as she proceeded to pummel his chest with 
her fists.  Not understanding, and not wanting to hurt her, 
he just gathered her into his chest and held her tightly 
against him.  He didn't even turn to Will, who was watching 
with his mouth fallen open.

"Scully?  Come on, talk to me."

She struggled for an instant, then was crying against his 
chest, her hands fisted in the fabric of his shirt.

"It's okay, I've got you," he crooned as she sobbed in his 
arms.

Will was struck dumb and didn't move even as they swayed 
in each others' arms.

He didn't know how long they all stood there before Scully 
took a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at Mulder.  
"I'm sorry I hit you."

"I'm sorry I upset you.  It was the only way, Scully, I couldn't 
let him report back and I couldn't let you near him."

"What if you had been affected by the fumes?"

He shook his head.  "I had to take the chance; I have to 
keep the two of you safe."

"That's my job too," she reminded him.

He gave a tiny shrug.  "It's the caveman in me."

"Damn you."  She buried her face in his chest again.  "You 
planned it; you took the plinth with you."

He nodded though she couldn't see.  "I had to be prepared."

Her arms slid around him then and she clutched him to her 
as tightly as he was holding her.  He kissed the top of her 
head and she stepped back.

"We need to go back tomorrow.  I think Saturday would be 
the busiest day, but - " He glanced over at Will who was still 
standing by the door, looking back and forth between them.  
 
Scully looked over to see what had drawn Mulder's attention.  
"Will?  William?  What's wrong?"

"You were fighting, you were furious and, and you hit him."

Scully blushed but she stepped closer to their son.  "I'm 
sorry you had to witness that.  I was - "

"You were upset, because he put himself in danger."  

She nodded.

"But, but you were so angry."

"Will," Mulder moved toward him as well.  "We fight 
sometimes, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other."

"That's not it.  You, you love each other even more after the 
fight."  He was clearly stunned.  "You're not mad, you, you 
want to have sex."

Scully's blush grew deeper and Mulder looked over at her 
trying to keep a straight face.  "Uh, Will, I always feel that 
way."

"Mulder!" she hissed.

"Well it's true and he can read minds."

Abruptly Will laughed.  "You guys are so different from my 
other parents."

"Is that a good thing?" Mulder asked quickly.

"Well, I'm not going to get you confused."

Scully huffed and turned away.  Mulder tried to bite down 
on his own laugh.  "Uh, anyone hungry?"

Scully shot him a glare.

"Okay, in order to stay out of sight, I'll order in a pizza, and 
we can talk strategy."

*****